Forty six years ago, on this day, May 30th, 1980, a subgroup of civil servants is looking at climate impacts (nb this is more broad than carbon dioxide build-up, which was not, in the eyes of many, the only show in town).
The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 338ppm. As of 2026 it is 430ppm, but check here for daily measures.
The broader context was that from the mid-1970s the Met Office had found it had to work harder to monopolise (or control) the debates on climate impacts for the UK.
The specific context was that by this time it was clear that the Thatcher government was supremely uninterested in questions of preparations for increased climate extremes.
What I think we can learn from this is that after you lose a battle (as the pro-action forces had in 1979-80) there is a refractory period…
What happened next.
The issue was there in the undergrowth, growing, but did not ‘break through’ until 1988.
What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.
Also on this day:
May 30, 1990 – Midnight Oil do a gig outside Exxon’s HQ in New York
May 30, 1996 – Denialist goons smear scientist
May 30, 1996 – Minerals Council investment pays off, again…
May 30, 2007 – Kevin Rudd pledges to ratify Kyoto, set emissions target and create an ETS